Garment-clasp.



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JOHN V. PILCHER, OF LOISVILLF, KENTUCKY.

GARN ENTmCLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 716,472, dated December 23, 1902.

Application filed December S0, 1901. Serial. No. 87,844. tNo model.)

To a/ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN V. PILCHER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment Clasps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this speciiicatiou, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention has relation to improvements in garment-clasps; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Figure l of the drawings is a perspective view of a garment-clasp constructed substantially in accordance with my invention, the pivoted holding-plate being shown as down and in the position it will assume when the fabric of the article is held between the jaws of the clasp; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the pivoted plate in an elevated position; Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional elevation of Fig. l; Fig. e, a perspective view of the two jaws of the clasp, showing the pivoted plate removed; Fig. 5, a perspective view-of the pivoted plate.

In the accompanying drawings, A B represent the two jaws of the clasp, which are formed from a rectangular piece of metal of the proper length and width and of the desired thickness, said piece of metal being bent in U-shape form, as indicated in Fig. l of the drawings, to form two parallel arms. The upper arm of the jaw A is formed with a rectangular opening a, and at its free end has an extension ZJ of less width than the width of the jaw, said extension terminating in laterally-extending pivot-pins c. The lower arm of the jaw B is formed with a plurality of spurs d, which project inwardly therefrom and are designed to engage the fabric, which is held securely between the jaws through the medium of the pivoted lever-plate C. The plate C may be of any suitable shape and design and is formed with a catch e, and when down, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, said catch engages a rib or projection f on the outer face of the U-shaped bend of the two arms of the jaws A B, thereby holding the pivoted lever-plate C in a` closed position when the fabric is to be held between the two jaws.

Suitable thumb-pieces t' project from the free end of the lever-plate C and upon either side of the catch e for convenience in disengaging the catch from the rib or projection f when it is desired to raise the plate, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It is evident that the catch shown may be of any suitable form and construction and project from any part of the lever-plate and lnade to engage any suitable device for holding the plate down in position.

At the pivoted end of the lever-plate C is a U-shaped cam or bearing-tongue g, which is of such shape as to act as a cam, which is movably mounted in the rectangular opening a and adapted to coact with the spurs d, the catch c being adapted to be sprung over the said rib f, so as to clamp the material between said spurs and said U-shaped cam. The cam or tongue g is formed by bending the strip of metal in substantially U-shape forni to present a rounded bearing-surface to the fabric, so that when coming in contact therewith it will not tear or otherwise injure the same.

The letter 7o' indicates a projection formed on the under surface of the arm of the jaw A, the same being designed to press on the bead of the surrounding edge of a cuff when the catch e is sprung into the rib fon the bend of the jaws A and B. The lever-plate C is provided with eyes h to engage the pivot-pins c, thereby forminga pivot connection between the jaw A and the plate, and with the pivotpins on the jaw and the eyes on the lever-plate provides a more finished article, as it leaves the lever-plate with a smooth and unbroken top or outer surface. The jawAis provided with a presser-finger 7c, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, which finger bears against the fabric and keeps the device approximately in line with the garment to which it is attached.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a garment-clasp, the combination with the U-shaped jaws having parallel arms the upper one of which is provided with a rectangular opening, the lower arm having on IOO its upper face a series of spurs, and said jaws and said U-shaped cam, substantially as x having a rib on the outer face of its bend, of specied.

a plate hinged to one of the arms of the jaws having on one end a catch, its opposite end being provided with a U-shaped cam movably mounted in bhe rectangular opening and adapted to coact with said spurs, and said catch adapted "no be sprung over said rib so as to clamp Ihe material between said spurs In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of lvvo witnesses.

JOHN V. PILCHER. Witnesses:

W. E. PILCHER, I. HUNTER. 

